NWSG Planting Questions

[birdog]

I cleaned up my field edges last week with the thought of planting nwsg between my timber and my tillable. What would be a good cover crop to throw down while waiting for the nwsg to get established? I was thinking buckwheat for this year (2 plantings) but thought I would reach out to you guys first for some advice. I also thought about just letting it go but I keep coming back to nwsg.

 

[BenA]

I would just lightly disk it and see what come up between now and the fall. A lot of annuals should pop up before perennials get established. It would let you get an idea of what you have to work with or against.

 

[birdog]

That is one plan for sure.

If I choose not to wait what would be a good plan for planting nwsg this year?

 

[BenA]

Mine was mowed in early spring, sprayed with gly shortly after it started growing back, sprayed again with gly and imazapic 5-6 weeks later. It was planted, then sprayed again to control some johnsongrass. I had some edges that were only disked. I can't tell the difference now.

 

[birdog]

What did you plant?

 

[BenA]

What did you plant?

Little Bluestem
Side Oats Grama
Virginia Wild Rye
Blackeyed Susan
Bergamot
Purple coneflower
Smooth Beardtongue
Rigid Goldenrod
Greyheaded Coneflower
New England Aster
False Sunflower
Smooth Aster

 

[birdog]

I would love to see some pictures

 

[Badgers80]

You could plant a Plateau herbicide tolerant native grass/forb mix. I’ve toyed with that idea since it might ensure a more successful establishment at least initially. Not sure how you’d plant, but I’d assume you’d do gly & 2,4D burn down first. And then do plateau at planting or just after.

 

[Badgers80]

And oats for cover crop. That’s the standard for CRP mixes here.

 

[BenA]

I would love to see some pictures

The first is what came up naturally the first spring after a fall disking. The second is what it all looks like right now, right at 5 years.